BENEFITS OF DRINKING GREEN TEA DAILY
If you have never had green tea, after reading this article, you should include it in your daily routine. This herbal super drink has gained more popularity globally as a beverage and health drink than any other hot beverage especially coffee.
Green tea is made from the dried and unoxidized leaves of Camellia Sinensis. Black tea, Oolong tea, Matcha green tea, and Sencha are made from the same plant but have distinct processes.
After the leaves are brewed, an emerald green color is noticeable, giving it the name “green tea”. Green tea dates back to 5,000 years ago having its origin in China as a powerful herbal medicine but mainly produced in East Asia.
It can be enjoyed hot, cold, or in powdered form. Green teas are commonly packaged in small tea bags and have different taste sensations – sweet, vegetal, bittersweet, floral, mint, or even fruity.
Some people say green tea tastes bitter than black tea, well, that is because it was prepared or stored the wrong way.
The best way to prepare, enjoy, and retain the nutrients of the green tea is by using the proper temperature and following correct procedures. The perfect temperature of boiling water for green tea is 80C/176F and it can be detected with a thermometer.
In the absence of a thermometer, make sure the water boils then leave it for 2minutes. Add the loose tea or tea bag to the boiled water, brew for 3minutes. Filter and pour the tea into a cup.
If done correctly, it would have a delicate and overwhelming taste, if it is bitter, the brewing process was incorrect.
Green tea is processed by steaming the leaves as soon as they are handpicked and drying them to remove excess leaf moisture. There are different varieties of green tea. The most common is the Matcha green tea.
It is in powder form and primarily grown in the shade unlike the regular green tea grown in the sun and packaged in tea bags. The leaves of Matcha is extremely high in chlorophyll which is responsible for its overwhelming green color.
Matcha is just green tea that has been grounded into a fine powder. Matcha green tea is full of antioxidants and therefore has greater health benefits than the regular green tea.
Choosing the best tea brand and brewing your tea the right way can play a role in its final antioxidants counts. Green tea are antioxidants and have anti-flammatory properties because of its polyphenol content and therefore, has remarkable health benefits. Dive into this article and learn more about this extraordinary drink.
BEST TIME TO DRINK GREEN TEA
Lovers of green tea would want to gulp down several cups of this magical potion every time, that is okay, but there are right times to take it in order to maximize its benefits.
There are many benefits of drinking green tea every day, it can reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, promote oral health, aid body weight control and so much more. What is the best time to drink green tea? Read on!!!
In The Morning
In as much as green tea is the best option for a morning beverage, do not take it too early in the morning especially on an empty stomach. Green tea is highly concentrated with catechins, which can cause damage to the liver if consumed on an empty stomach.
It is best to take green tea in the morning around 10:00 to 11:00 am to boost your metabolism. Green tea contains caffeine and amino acid; two powerful stimulants that enhance alertness, optimum brain function, and a great mood.
Therefore, to feel alright and on-the-go on a bright morning, consume your green tea at the right time in the morning.
Before or After a Workout Session
Drinking green tea before or after your workout session has great benefits. If you are trying to lose weight, drink a cup of this potion 30 minutes before working out. Research shows that drinking green tea before working out can increase fat burning by 17%.
Taking drink tea after exercising can help rejuvenate, improve your performance level, make you exercise longer, and replenish your body and your muscles.
So, if you are looking for a way to shed some pounds, we just gave you a tip.
In-Between Meals
A lot of people take their tea immediately after meals. Do you do the same thing? This is wrong and can totally inhibit nutrient intake and iron absorption.
All the beneficial nutrients must have been lost after doing this, and then it seems like though the green tea has not been working.
So, it is ideal to take green tea 30-45minutes before or after your meals. This can help to boost metabolism and digestion.
Avoid Green Tea Late in the Evening
Did you know that one cup of green tea contains about 35mg of caffeine? It does and consuming green tea before bedtime could cause sleep disturbances if you are sensitive to caffeine.
It is best to consume green tea for at least 3 hours before bedtime. Taking it 3 hours before bedtime can help you burn fat. Because of the presence of L-theanine which is capable of providing focus and proper concentration, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed, and if you don’t want Mr.
caffeine disrupting that beautiful sleep, avoid green tea late in the evening.
HOW MUCH CAFFEINE DOES GREEN TEA CONTAIN?
Green tea actually contains caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant present in green tea. It contributes to weight loss, improved exercise and performance level, alertness, and mood enhancement.
Too much caffeine can cause sleep disturbances, diarrhea, anxiety and that is why green tea is healthier than coffee.
An eight-ounce cup of green tea contains 22-40mg caffeine and an eighth-ounce cup of coffee contains 100mg of caffeine.
This is dependent on the brand/type of green tea, length of time to brew, the quantity of water used, and the strength of the green tea. According to a review, “bagged teas tend to be more caffeinated than loose leaf teas”.
One study found that 1 gram of green tea had 11-20mg of caffeine content.
If you are too sensitive to caffeine, it is best to consume a moderate amount of tea in a day.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN I LOSE WITH GREEN TEA?
If one of your goals is to lose weight, take green tea. Green tea has gained massive attention globally as a weight loss product.
Exercising and eating healthy can aid weight loss, but green tea as a natural stimulant can accelerate your weight loss.
One study found that men who took green tea before exercising burned 17 percent of fat and loosed weight than those who did not. Green tea has benefits for men as well.
Green teas’ has high caffeine level, with it less calorie content, and for a fact that it is a natural diuretic that can aid weight loss.
A study showed that those who consumed green tea lost an average of 2.9 pounds after taking it regularly for 12 weeks.
Drinking green tea and shedding weight and varies from person to person and it depends on your caffeine intake as well as your natural metabolic rate. Several studies showed that green tea aids metabolism and burns 3-4% of calories every day.
Also, in a survey carried out by researchers on 60 obsessed people, those taking green tea lost 7.3 pounds and burned 183 more calories per day after three months than those who did not take the green tea.
HOW MANY CUPS OF GREEN TEA SHOULD I DRINK A DAY TO LOSE WEIGHT?
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC, it is ideal to take 2-3 cups of green tea daily which is approximately 240- 320milligrams of polyphenols.
Consuming excess green tea in a day can have negative effects on you like excessive diarrhea, frequent urination since it is a diuretic, and iron deficiency. Green tea contains catechins which contain EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), an antioxidant which helps to boost metabolism and burn fat.
Green tea has been observed to work wonders in weight loss due to its nutritional properties. Green tea varieties are suitable for weight loss especially the Matcha green tea.
Therefore, drinking between 2-3 cups of green tea every day can be sufficient to aid weight loss. However, engaging in regular exercise, eating healthy foods, and incorporating green tea into your diet can help to increase positive results.
DOES GREEN TEA REDUCE BELLY FAT
Recent studies have shown that green tea can help burn stubborn belly fat and flatten abs due to its nutritional contents.
One study found that people who drank green tea containing catechin, a bioactive compound, ate and exercised regularly, had a reduction in belly fat than those who drank a beverage without catechin, ate, and exercised regularly.
Drinking green tea is great, but diet and exercise must be involved to get the best results especially when you are trying to get rid of belly fat.
According to a report in a journal, ”catechin in green tea may actually inhibit carbohydrate digestion and absorption”.
This is good, one cause of belly fat is an excess carb, if green tea helps to inhibit its absorption, then green tea is essential.
Several other studies on green tea and its compound, catechin, show that after consumption, you lose visceral fat (belly fat) which is really harmful to your health.
DOES GREEN TEA REDUCE BREAST SIZE?
Well, in a way, green tea can reduce breast size. The consumption of green tea can help you lose weight. Green tea contains caffeine and antioxidants like catechin that burns fat and calories making you lose body weight. As you lose overall body fat, you lose breast fat.
BENEFITS OF DRINKING GREEN TEA
- Dental health: green tea has natural antibiotic and antifungal properties that protect against bad breath. Consuming green tea leaves you with fresh breath, and when you have fresh breath, there is extra confidence. Streptococcus mutants, a bacteria found in the mouth can be inhibited by the catechin present in green tea.
That is awesome!!! This bacteria is present in the mouth can cause tooth and cavity decay. Green tea also contains fluoride that strengthens your enamel.
- It contains biologically active compounds: this health drink contains polyphenols like flavonoids and catechin that protects cells from damages and reduces the formation of free radicals. It also contains a powerful compound EGCG that helps to burn fat.
- Improves the Brain: Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that helps to keep you in a great mood, a big end to depression.
It also provides you with steady concentration, a relaxing effect on your nervous system, helps to keep you alert and active. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine present in the green tea improves the overall performance of the brain and makes you more productive.
- Skincare: Green tea has antioxidants and anti flammatory properties that help to reduce sun damage on the skin. It also has anti-aging properties that make you look younger and fresher. Some people apply green tea bags on their skin to take care of sunburn, eye bags.
To have your skin looking all clean and bright, take 2-3 cups of green tea a day.
- Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease: Alzheimer is a leading cause of dementia. These are neurodegenerative (brain aging) diseases. Green tea helps to boost good memory and thinking capabilities.
With catechin in green tea, the neurons in your brain are protected which reduces your risk of having these diseases. Choosing the best brand of green tea like Lipton green tea can help you reap positive results.
- Cardiovascular disease: Research suggests daily consumption of at least 400mg of flavonoids can help maintain a healthy heart leaving it working in perfect condition.
Substituting green tea to other sugary beverages or consuming green tea without sugar and cream can improve your heart health.
Green tea helps to improve blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart failure. To leave your heart pumping and working, take a cup or two of green tea
- Weight loss: Green tea helps to boost metabolism and burn fat. Yes!!! It reduces your risk of becoming overweight. All thanks to Mr. Caffeine and other compounds like catechin
- Cancer: people consuming green tea have lower risks of cancer. Researchers believe that polyphenols present in green tea inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
Drinking green tea can help to prevent the occurrence of certain cancers like breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer, gastric cancer.
- Type 2 Diabetes: as diabetics become insensitive and resistant to insulin, green tea improves their insulin sensitivity and also helps to reduce blood sugar levels. If you are a diabetic patient, add green tea to your diet list right now!!!
BOTTOM LINE
Green tea is packed with super compounds that could have a positive impact on your health from your brain to your heart and your skin. To reap the benefits of this product, purchase the best tea brand – Lipton green tea is very common and easy to get, store in a very cool place and seal properly after you have opened it, make sure not to reuse a tea bag since it has been exposed to air and may contain microbes, and brew it the right way. Add green tea to your shopping list today